The city flag waves on a pole in front of the City County Building, Nov. 25, 2012. This year is the 50th anniversary of the city's flag.

Written by

Three things you didn't know: 1) Indianapolis' city flag's 50th anniversary is this year; 2) vexillologists (people who study flags) say it stands out, that it's one terrific flag; 3) Indianapolis has a city flag.

With its intersecting lines representing Washington and Meridian streets, the flag is illustrative of Indianapolis' "Crossroads of America" status. And with its tight selection process -- the only ones to weigh in, back in 1962, were a handful of white males -- the flag is illustrative also of the top-down way the city used to do business.